Academics » How to Support Your Student

How to Support Your Student

 

What Technology Do I Need for My Student to be Successful? 

Get a device for your student

Every student needs their own computer with a keyboard. Students must access the Summit Learning Platform via Chrome as the primary browser. Students onsight will have a Chromebook checked out during orientation. Students that are working remotely may arrange with the counselor to get a Chromebook if they need one. 

 

Required Technology:

  • Chrome Browser: The Summit Learning Platform is tested on Chrome exclusively and we, therefore, recommend all students access the platform via Chrome as the primary browser. You can download Chrome here.

Recommended Technology: All School Devices Meet the Criteria Below. If you are unsure about using a personal device, please contact the school (509.927.1100)

  • Overall Experience: All students have a device that works well at all times.
  • Device: Chromebooks are 3 years old or newer; Windows, Mac, or Linux laptops are 4 years old or newer; Windows tablets have a full keyboard and a 10" screen. 
  • Operating System: Laptops are running one of these operating systems (or higher): ChromeOS (41), Windows 7, MacOS 10, Ubuntu 14.
  • Printing (optional):  Every student can print to a printer from his/her device.

Verify that your internet has sufficient bandwidth

A wireless environment can easily be overwhelmed once if you have multiple students learning at home. Students that do not have home Internet access can speak with our Assistant Principal, Tania Johnson, to look for solutions that may include a district hotspot or mobile device. 

 

Recommended Technology:

  • Overall Experience: Students are able to stream video and audio at the same with no slowness/buffering.
  • Internet Speed: The connection out to the Internet has a  connection with speeds allowing for at least 1.5mbps/student.

 How can I support my child as they work on Projects?

As a parent/guardian, you may be wondering what to do after you've learned about the Projects your child is working on.

We encourage you to use the Academic Check-ins at Home resource.

At the end of a Project, you may also want to:

  • Ask your child the essential questions from the Project to learn more about their perspective and understanding of the subject matter
  • Ask your child what they learned about the Enduring Understanding statements from the Project and how they learned them
  • Discuss with your child your own opinions and experiences on the subject matter
  • Reflect with your student about how well they managed their work and time during the completion of this project. Did they turn each Checkpoint and the Final Product in on time? If yes, what actions did they take to make that happen?

You don’t need to be an expert on the Content Knowledge covered in your child's Projects in order to support them well. The best way you can support your child is to help them reflect, explain their work, and become a better self-directed learner.

 

 

 

How can I support my child if they're off track or have incomplete grades?

As a parent/guardian, you may be wondering how you can support your child who may be off track or have incomplete grades on the Summit Learning Platform. Parents are most successful when they work with their student on a weekly basis by checking in with them and going through a check-in process to establish their academic status, set goals, and agree on an action plan to make progress. 

If your child is off track in passing Content Assessments for a course:

  • Ask your child to show you how and where they take notes to prepare for their Content Assessments. Students should work on note-taking and practice for Content Assessments outside of school.
  • Ask them if they took the Diagnostic Exam for the Power Focus Area. If yes, ask them which objectives they need to refocus on and study more before taking the Content Assessment again.
  • Check if there are any Content Assessments your child has attempted but not passed in the Year section on the platform. If your student is attempting Content Assessments, but not passing them, encourage them to strategy shift and reflect on what study techniques work well for them. They may want to reach out to their teacher for additional support.

If your child has any incomplete, or overdue, Projects for a course:

  • Ask your child to show you the Project on the platform. Teachers typically mark which Checkpoints of the Project have been completed, so you should be able to get a better idea of the progress your student is making on the Project.
  • Encourage your child to reach out to their teacher and set up a check-in meeting during office hours.

If your child is on track:

  • Encourage your child to seek additional learning opportunities. They may work on challenge focus areas for a course, pursue independent study work, tutor peers, join a club, or take on a new extracurricular activity.